A BUSINESS RIVAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 916, 20 September 1889, Page 27

A BUSINESS RIVAL.

It has beSh, and perhaps* truly, said that the great international exhibitions held in various

centres of the world’s population giva other countries an opportunity for finding out the weaknesses of nation®, Tbo spirit of rivalry prompts each country to exhibit its finest productions, at the same time showing its own defects in the degrees of comparison which are drawn. The present? exhibition open in Paris in this respect gives an opportunity lor unfriendly Critics to point out what they consider a dangerous business rival to the Australasian colonies in the matter of frozen meat, wool, grain and other exports of produce. This rival is said to be the Argentine Republic. The Paris correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald in a recent letter says jAmong ths subjects of serious interest; which are also more and more numerous e*ery week, the section of the Argentine Republic is the one which most nearly regards Australian observers. This new country is advancing with a rapidity that transcends- the forward march of Australia, all of whose products ifc produces in astonishing abundance, of splendid quality, equalling your production in every do-. partment, considerably transcending it m others. Its pavilion, close to the great tower, is one of the most superb buildings of the Champ de Mars. Its erection hass cost £48,000. The richness and variety of the products exhibited in this very beautiful building' have taken everyone, _ and especially the Australians, by surprise. Rich in the precious metals, and all minerals* with wheat and other grain even finer than those of Australia, superb stones for every purpose, woods of the utmost beauty and variety, wool second only to that of Victoria, splendid leather and saddlery, cotton, sugar, tea, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, trees, and plants of superb quality, every sort of fruit and vegetable for the table—in fact, every species of natural production of the very finest quality, and a soil producing them all without manure and almost without culture—the predominant wealth off this astonishing region is its immense pasturelands and its colossal exportation of beeves and of meat. Its system of frigorific machines, for the safe conveyance of meat and extract of beef to foreign countries, is rapidly placing it at the head of this department of the food-furnishing of the world; while its enormous herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, that supply beef and mutton of transeendant excellence, also provide for export the great quantities of wool and of leather that constitute such important branches of its exportation. For some time past the Argentine Republic, as a field for capital and enterprise, has been attracting considerable attention, not only in Great; Britain, but in these southern colonies. It is true that the Republic has developed rapidly of late. In 1887 its export of wool was £6,585,000 ; hides, £2,600,000; sheepskins, £1,353,000 ; tallow, £1,000,000; wheat, £1,634,256. Hitherto France has been its principal customer, taking in ISB7 exports to the value of £5,052,000, while Great Britain only took £1,873,000 ; bub during the last eighteen months a large quantity of frozen meat has found its way to England, and arrangements are now being made to develop this trade to a large extent. At first sight it would appear that the A gentine Republic- is destined to be a dangerous business rival of Australasia, and from the glowing account of its exhibits in Paris people will be apt to imagine that with such a vast territory and immense productive power, combined with easy transport to Europe, there is a danger of Australasian produce being seriously affected in price in the English markets by this growing republic. Upon going more closely into details the danger is not so great as at first appears. Take wool for example. A recent English price-list quotes highest price of Argentine wool at 9|d, while New Zealaud fetches as much as Is Then in frozen mutton New Zealand quality obtains nearly double the price to that sent from the Argentine Republic. It is true that country has quantity, but its quality is very far below ours. Although great pains have been taken to improve the breed of sheep, the Argentines have not been able to produce mutton equal to the poorest sample sent from this Colony. With our unrivalled climate, our superior breed of sheep, and our excellent freezing facilities, we need not fear that the Argentine Republic, vast as are its resources, can successfully compete with us iu the English market for frozen mutton. At the same time, with such a rival in the field, it behoves us to put forth every every endeavour to maintain the superiority of our quality. . A rigid carefulness that none bub the finest; mutton leaves our shores is essential. Then, again, we have other markets accessible that, before long, it will be as well to test. China, Japan, and India are vast fields for our enterprise, and sooner or later they should figure ia our books as profitable customers. Our one national "doty as exporters is to strain every effort to maintain quality, .-'for'--’in the world’s open markets ’ ’ quality laughs at competition..